Susan smiled lightly and used her sight to check the crowd before finding him near the shade of a tree. Tristan Akia Novak. He's first generational American, but his heritage is Peruvian from South America and Swahili from Central Africa as his parents immigrated from those countries.
He was fairly dark skinned with long flowing black hair that he let grow out past his neck, though stopped short just past his elbows. He also had dark colored eyes that showed nothing but brilliance and kindness when one looked into them, which possibly explained why Esme had fallen for him in the same way that he was almost as devoted to her as Robert was to Susan. That and despite his being born and raised in America, he still had a bit of Hispanic twang to his voice that he picked up from his father.
Susan knew that Tristan is thinking about a profession of studying biology, but he's willing to wait for Esme to join him or head to another college of her choice. After all, he dearly loves her.
"The way those two remind me of us, Sue, we might be expecting grandchildren very soon.", Robert gave a slight joke as the final speech was coming to an end.
"I already thought I was still a bit too young to be a grandfather, but a great-grandfather?", Johnathan chuckled to himself.
"Yeah, but he still can't outlift me.", Link snorted. "Doesn't Phillippe tend to lift you?", B.O.B. asked. "Doesn't count. He can change his size and all to better lift.", Link quietly argued back.
Susan smirked lightly, "He hasn't asked her in marriage yet, you know. And besides, look at us. This family is not normal, but I don't care anyway.".
"No, neither do I, so long as he's a good person and loves her. That's basically all I want for her, to be happy. Same with Phillippe.", Robert said.
Susan smiled lightly, "Indeed.", finally hearing the announcer finish, and the graduates including her children cheered and threw up their caps in celebration, soon leaving the stage, with Phillippe heading to the family, and Esme sprinting over to Tristan who's then coming near the family, hugging him with an excited smile and a kiss.
"Well, how you three feeling right now?", Robert asked as Phillippe came up to the family first and started nearly getting swarmed by his grandmother and B.O.B. "B.O.B., easy, buddy.". He shook his head as he smiled.
Phillippe smiled widely, "Gramma! I know you're happy for me, but easy on the hugging!", as Esme giggled with an amused face, "We're feeling great, Papa! I am so happy you're here, Tristan.".
"What can I say, Esme? Every time I see you makes me just as happy as you are right now. And at least for now, we don't need to worry about school for a few weeks.", Tristan said as he gave her another kiss.
"Easy, you two, not so much PDA in public.", Robert chuckled as Wendy waved at him, "Oh, stop it, Robert, let them enjoy each other's love!".
Susan laughed lightly, "You heard Mother. Us girls know best. And besides, Tristan is a gentleman. So, ready to have some lunch? And then afterwards, I believe Monger is going to present you two his graduation gifts.".
"I'm starving, Mama.", Phillippe said as B.O.B. slid over to Susan. "Do you have the food now? I'm starving more than him!", B.O.B. proclaimed.
"B.O.B., you ate like, a bunch of stuff just an hour ago.", Link rolled his eyes. "Nearly cleared out our fridge.", Carl added.
"We'll all get something, don't you all worry. We've got something nice, prepared back at our place.", Robert explained. Susan nodded, "Indeed. We got some spaghetti and meatballs keeping warm.".
"We'll have something much more grandiose and filling for dinner tonight; but this stuff is to tide us over for a few hours." Robert said as the family started to walk over to their place; though Esme and Tristan were parting so he could also talk to his folks with her.
Susan opened the door, glad that several years ago, her daddy had the idea to add a ladder series of platforms around the house so everybody can talk and eat without needing to throw anybody's back out or whatever.
"Your parents cool with you eating lunch with all of us, Tristan?", Robert asked as he went up to the fridge where a large amount of the spaghetti was being kept.
"Very much so, Mr. Murphy. Though I will have to skip dinner with you all since they wanted to celebrate with me and a few of our relatives that came in.", Tristan explained.
Susan nodded, "That's just fine with us. After all, you had graduated from the other high school on the other side of town.".
"Well, Modesto still isn't too big, so it's not like it's that much of a separation.", Tristan chuckled.
"Speaking of not too big," Robert took the food to the size changer as he got smaller portions ready for much of the other folks visiting; only three huge piles would be made for Susan, Robert and Phillippe who tended to prefer himself at his natural height when at home while Esme was still staying her near Amazonian height because Tristan was around. "I hope you've all got some big appetites since we made a lot of this.".
"If you're worried about wasteful leftovers, you know B.O.B. will finish it off.", Link chuckled. "Oh, speaking of food, Robert, you have a twenty-foot ham I could have too?", B.O.B. asked.
Susan groaned lightly, "B.O.B.! You eat anything, and no, you aren't having ham. We are all having spaghetti and meatballs.".
"Come on, Uncle B.O.B., leave some for the rest of us.", Esme teased.
"Yeah, don't have a repeat of our 13th birthday when you ate our whole cake.", Phillippe rolled his eyes as nearly all in attendance remembered that day. The lesson was learned to never leave food out when he's around; make sure he's eating quite a lot beforehand and have someone on a light guard with the food. B.O.B. sighed as he nodded.
"Okay, we're all good now.", Robert said as he finished heating up the food before Phillippe started to pass out the food to the smaller attendees.
Wendy smiled warmly, "Thank you, Phillippe.", and Phillippe nodded, "You're welcome, Gramma.", before passing out the food to Carl, Jonathan, Esme, and Tristan as well.
The family all went fairly quiet as they all were enjoying their meal; especially the three teenagers who felt a sort of weight off of their shoulders now that they had all truly graduated and now could stare into the future of what their lives had in store for them.
"So, Doc, any idea what our graduation gift from the General might be?", Esme asked while giving him that look that always broke him. Esme was just too sweet for the mad scientist.
"To be honest, my dear. I have no real idea what it could be. He seems to have kept it to himself.", Dr. Cockroach shrugged lightly with a patient smile.
"He's been doing that a bit more often lately. Though it could be with his age.", Link said, "What's he pushing now? Past 80?".
"The General always did state that he was going to die in his uniform unless his mind started to slip before.", Jonathan pointed out.
Robert grinned, "Monger's always stubborn, and always will be.", and Susan laughed softly, "Too right, but we all know that he would never let down any of us.".
"He certainly has proven it with all these years.", Carl said, reminding just really how much Monger had done for the giant and giantess in trying to bring their lives back to a sense of normality amongst a society smaller than them.
The conversation soon melted into small little discussions of the typical, everyday nature. Wendy was telling her normal stories involving what she heard from neighbors, Tristan told a short story of something that happened to his aunt recently, and Link recounted a fight he had some years ago. The conversations came to a stop as nearly everyone finished their meals when the doorbell rang.
"That'll probably be him.", Robert checked the clock as he stood up and walked for the door. Robert opened the door, and chuckled lightly, "You're still going with that jetpack, huh?".
Monger shrugged, "Nobody tells this General what to do, and besides, this jetpack helped me out in a few sticky situations. So, are Titania and Goliath about done with lunch? Their graduation gifts are ready to be shown off.".
"Titania?", Tristan looked to his girlfriend as this was his first time hearing her monster name. "The Queen of the Faries?".
Esme blushed, "Wasn't my idea. Didn't even know what that name was until Doc told me of A Midsummer Night's Dream.".
"Please, Esme, you love that name.", Phillippe teased his little sister before reaching out and gently rubbing her hair since he was still much bigger than her at the moment. Despite his more public, shy nature, he was almost a different person when it came to his family as he was much more outgoing with them.
Esme grinned lightly, "Okay, I sure do, but come on, Goliath. You were the giant among all the kids and all. And besides, I have the feeling that this version of Goliath for you is far better than the version of Goliath in the Bible. And sure, there's the Disney Gargoyles with the leader Goliath, he's almost the same personality as you.".
Jonathan chuckled, "When she's right, she's right. You can't outargue that, Phillippe.". Robert shook his head, "I still can't believe you two discovered that show without us. That was almost our late childhood for your mother and I.".
"General, first, very nice to see you again.", Susan smiled as she walked up to the general while Phillippe got to cleaning the plates, feeding whatever scraps were left to B.O.B. though he made to be sure to grow them a bit so it would be more filling for the blob. "And secondly, we've been very interested to see what you've had in mind for the two of them.".
Monger smiled slightly, "You know the clearing where the church was destroyed? I didn't know why at the time when I bought the plot of land after the incident, but now I do. So, all of you, follow me.".
Everyone gave each other strange looks. Some had to guess the buying of the land in the first place was more or less to try and cover some tracks on the existence of monsters, in that case, the rebirth of Susan and Robert into Ginormica and Gigantor. But really was driving their curiosity was what exactly he wanted to show them. Everyone made their way out of the house and moved towards the direction of the old church.
Eventually, the family made it to the clearing, and jaws dropped as they saw the new transformation upon the clearing. Monger cleared his throat, "Everyone, I present you, Crusader Castle of Modesto.".
Sure enough, it's a castle, a huge one that resembles one of the ancient castles in Poland. Cream tan brick in all different tones, along with black designs on the towers. There are beautiful stained-glass windows, and the roofline is different in spots, like the towers has different shingles of color.
The two front towers have a dark gray roof while the back two towers have a light gray roof. However, along with the different color rooflines, the front towers are slimmer and shorter while the back towers are thicker and bigger.
Everyone was fairly shocked upon the sight of it. It looked magnificent and almost not real considering the area that surrounded it. Of course, the two younger size changing monsters were already enamored with the sight.
"This, this is their home, General?", Robert asked as he was the first to finally find his voice.
General grinned, "More than that. I figure sooner or later, there'd be more generations of size-shifter monsters much like your kids, so why not a castle? And well, it might be your home as well...I thought your current home would be a sort of vacation/guest house, especially if the boys are visiting.", glancing at Doc and the others.
"Geez, General, I don't know what to say.", Robert said with an impressed smile. "I do! I love it! Thank you so much, General!", Esme ran up and gave the General a deep hug, though careful not to shatter the much frailer man.
"Seriously, General, this place is incredible, you're too kind.", Phillippe added with a nod. Susan exhaled in amazement, "A castle...And it fits all of us?".
"That's the idea. Like I said, it's better to plan ahead since I think with considering that these two," Monger pointed to the twins, "Have grown up quite a bit.".
Robert rubbed Phillippe's head. "Still not as big as their Papa though this one is getting close.". Phillippe grinned lightly, "Let's see about that! After all, we may be already 18, but we still got a while to grow taller than you, Papa!".
Susan sighed lightly, "Even in a family of giants and giantesses, I am technically the 'shortest', but who knows what will come in the future?".
"Oh, you think you're going to have a second growth spurt, love?", Robert wrapped his arms around her. "I wouldn't mind that at all.", he kissed her cheek as their children rolled their eyes. "Oh, don't you two complain, you of all people, Esme.".
"He's got a point, my dear.", Tristan gave a small snicker as he followed Robert's suit and wrapped his arms around Esme from behind. "Careful, Tristian, baby, I could grow and give you a wild ride if you hug me there.", Esme reminded him.
Susan chuckled before whispering, "That would be lovely, but I was rather referring to the chance that one of those grandkids being perhaps the 'shortest', you know?", glancing to see Tristan kissing Esme on the neck as he's a bit shorter than Esme, but he doesn't care, liking that Esme's tall and stronger than him.
"Oh, right.", Robert blushed as he realized his mistake there, "And give them some years they might be bigger than you.".
"So, could we be able to see inside, General?", Wendy asked, practically giddy with anticipation to see what's inside the castle.
Monger nodded, "Of course, go ahead. I'll be along for dinner later, but now, I have to see to Butterflysaurus, and talk with some people over some of the environmental issues that's still out there.".
"Thank you very much, General.", everyone gave him a quick salute as he started to leave before everyone started to make their way to the castle.
"If I had to guess, they probably simply built this house sized, shrank it and then grew it here.", Doc theorized with a hum. "It would explain how we never saw it before today.", Phillippe said as he walked to the entrance.
Carl whistled lightly, "It's like the size of a stadium!", getting closer, and Jonathan shrugged lightly, "Couldn't surprise me there considering our kids and grandchildren, and perhaps great-grandchildren...".
"It'll be a bit strange to see what comes with how much time we have left.", Jonathan said a second later.
"What's a bit strange to me is how it seems like no one is really having a problem with this, I mean the city and all.", Link looked around as he said that.
"Maybe due to the fact that we helped saved the world?", Robert guessed, "After all, we've gained quite a fan base.".
Dr. Cockroach nodded, "That's a fair point there, and of course, we are still helping out. Heck, I am making a patent on smaller versions of the size ray, just for commercial reasons. And of course, the reverse-engineered technology from the robots, the space clothes, it's improving things here and there.".
"I wonder what Gallaxhar would've done had he known what would happen for humanity thanks to him. He'd either still double down or find somewhere far more remote to rule.", Robert snickered at the thought.
"He was a true monster in every sense of the word, Papa. Not like us. He would to the former.", Esme said as Phillippe finally opened the door.
Susan smiled lightly at Robert, "What did I tell you, Robbie? We got a smart girl here. And besides, no more talking about him! Let's go see what's inside!", an excited giggle coming out of her.
Robert nodded as the door opened to reveal what was inside. As some would probably guess, it was a total opposite to the outside. Inside was a very homely, modern look with electronics and all, in some ways similar to the other home in Modesto. The walls were fairly mixed with either a layer of the outside's thick bricks or solid walls. The floors were either wooden or carpeted, rather than the hard rock that laid outside. From the living room that could be seen when walking in, there was also the kitchen which looked even more spectacular than Robert and Susan's old one.
Wendy gasped softly, "Oh, my goodness! It's even more beautiful on the inside!", and Tristan whistled in awe, "Boy, I think this is bigger than a simple stadium. Might be close in size to the Colosseum in Rome.".
"And it's all just a private home for us.", Esme chuckled as she gave Tristan another kiss on the lips as everyone began to explore around the house.
"I can take a wild guess what you would like to see first, love.", Robert smiled at his wife. Susan grinned lightly, "You're reading my mind, my prince.", whispering lowly, "Knowing Monger, he definitely made the place soundproof and quakeproof.".
"Should keep this idea to ourselves then.", Robert chuckled under his breath. "I think Esme and Tristan might be putting that to theory as well. She is our daughter after all. Remember when we were her age and how hard it was to keep us from going too far?".
Susan nodded, "Indeed. I only can pray that she and Tristan knows not to go too far. After all, they are considering college sooner or later, plus, they need to be married as well.".
"I think if they were given the chance, they'd fully be onboard for getting married right at this moment.", Robert admitted. "Not that I'm complaining and all, but I would rather for them to wait a bit before jumping into that life. We did the same thing. I mean, I almost asked you out on graduation, but we know how things went. Still, no regrets and all, we still got married and all.", he kissed her.
Susan smiled softly, "Too right...Shall we test it out? After all, dinner isn't for a few hours.", giving him a flirty wink.
Robert chuckled, "Oh, would you rather do it here or maybe somewhere even more private? We kinda skipped Holmes our last anniversary, remember?", Robert reminded as Phillippe obviously could tell what their plans were. "Relax, son, I'm sure there's a girl for you out there, somewhere.".
"Just feel a bit left out, you know?" Phillippe admitted, "After all, seems like my parents and sister already found their soulmates before even finishing high school.".
Susan assured her son, "Don't worry, Phillippe, things can surprise you when you're not expecting it. And you know what, Robert? I believe you're right. Mt. Holmes is perfect.".
"Good, besides, it's been a while since we've gotten a little vacation away from the kids and all, and I'm sure they'd love to celebrate, so this works for everyone. Though, Phillippe... you're on Esme watch. Just keep her and Tristan from doing something they might regret.", Robert smirked.
"Don't worry, I'll keep things cool for those two if Esme starts to crack.", Phillippe assured with a chuckle.
Susan smiled and caressed Phillppe's cheek, "We'll be back later on. You have fun, okay?", and Phillippe nodded, "I will, Mama.", before smirking, "Just don't go too wild, eh?".
His parents blushed as they gave him a glare. "I swear, you're never going to forgive us for that night.", Robert referred to the night the two were just so pent up a few years back that they went at it so loud that Phillippe barged into their room and shouted at them to keep it down.
Phillippe raised an eyebrow, "At least you were covered by the blanket. I only had a couple of nightmares. Otherwise...".
"Yeah, you got lucky that night, usually we tend to not have it.", Susan immediately elbowed Robert in the gut when he said that. "Sorry.".
"Sorry is right, Papa, if I ever have a girl, you certainly won't hear me giving out details of our love.", Phillippe said. Susan nodded, "Good to know. Come on, Robert, let's not wait any longer.".
"Yeah, good idea.". The two of them made their short announcement about them spending more of an impromptu trip to Wyoming before they headed back to their place to wait for Butterflyosaurus.
Within a few minutes of waiting, Butterflyosaurus picked up Robert and Susan, and headed to Mt. Holmes, glad that Butterflyosaurus is faster than the Hercules plane, no disrespect, really, but still.
"Thanks, girl.", Robert patted her on the head as she landed by the mountain entrance, "Now, remember, be sure to pick us up in, say, 3 days?". Robert looked to Susan, wondering if that was enough time for them.
Susan chuckled, "That sounds about right to me. We will be fine, Bea.", and Butterflyosaurus bellowed happily, and the couple smiled as they slid down her wing, their feet touching earth by the entrance.
Butterflyosaurus bellowed warmly as she flew upwards, and Susan waved, "See ya in three days!", and Robert yelled with a wave as well, "Yeah, and oh, have a good time flying, Bea!".
The two of them waited for a moment before the entrance finally opened before the two walked inside. Much of it had changed since the first time they had been there for their honeymoon since the family had brought some things with them every once in a while, which they came.
"Well, the mountain is all ours, no one to bother us...", Robert rubbed her shoulders.
Susan purred lightly as she glanced at him, "Yes, you're all mine. So, I was thinking on the way here, and well, what do you think about playing tag? Whover gets tagged loses a piece of cloth.".
Robert shook his head, "Where exactly do you come up with some of these ideas?". He then smiled before he tapped her on the nose, "Since it was your idea, you're it.". He then ran as fast as he could away from her.
Susan laughed heartily, "Oh, wait until I get you, Robbie!", chasing after him, with the door luckily closing after them. Susan caught Robert in the kitchen, and Robert lost his tie, and then in the library, Robert caught Susan, causing her to lose her heels.
And now, Susan is chasing Robert to the basement, only having visited it one or two times before. Robert made a turn before he tripped and caught himself which was just enough time for Susan to catch him. "Alright, you got me, what do I lose here?".
Susan smiled wryly, "Shoes. They aren't helping you at the moment, hmm?".
"It's only fair then, I guess. Since you lost your heels.", Robert leaned down and started to take off his shoes before giving his wife's bare feet a kiss. "Oh, that means you're it again.", he chuckled as he finished getting his shoes off.
Susan giggled, "You are a sneak, Robert. Alright, what do you want me to lose this time?", smiling curiously.
"Well, let's see... hmm, we've already gotten you out of those heels, I've lost my tie and shoes. Maybe slip that pantyhose off?", Robert suggested.
Susan smiled with a hum, "Sure thing.", her hands moving downwards under her long-length skirt, removing the dark pantyhose, dancing slightly as she wiggled her hips, and carefully leaning down to remove it from her feet, she kissed Robert's shoulder.
"You're it. Take off your watch. We don't need to check the time when we're on our little vacation, hmm?", waggling her eyebrows as Susan purred wryly at Robert.
"Yeah, we already have clocks around too.", Robert smirked as he tossed away his giant watch as he rubbed his hands against her sides. "God, you drive me so wild sometimes.".
Susan smiled and kissed Robert, "Well, you tagged me with your hands. What next, darling?".
"Get rid of those earrings. You weren't born with those.", Robert chuckled as he reached up to help take them off before she grabbed his wrists.
Susan smiled wryly, "I'll take them off if you take off your belt, hmm?", before letting go of his wrists and went to remove her earrings.
Robert did as he was told as he tossed it away while Sue took off her earrings and placed them down, "Now I think you're it again, so you might want to lose that blouse.".
Susan gave him a wink, "Now we're getting close, my prince.", before removing her blouse almost slowly as to tease her husband.
"Then I guess since I'm tagged, there goes my shirt, huh?", Robert chuckled. Susan purred lightly, "Yep. Got it in one.".
Robert tossed it away as he was left in only just his pants. "You know, I don't think we're even going to make it to the bedroom; we might just have to settle for the lava pit.", he said as Susan gave him a playful push... that was a bit harder than the both of them expected.
Susan blinked as she then heard something crack, "Did you hear that?", and Robert frowned lightly, "That wasn't me...", before gasping in surprise as they saw cracks splintering through the floor, and suddenly, the floor gave away.
The two of them screamed as the floor beneath them gave way, revealing a black chasm below that didn't seem to end as they fell down it.
Susan screamed shrilly, "This isn't what I had in mind!", feeling the wind blow past her and Robert who called back, "I think we're in for an adventure again!".
Eventually, they saw that they're still falling, and casually leaning back, Susan looked at Robert, "How do you figure how long we've been falling?".
"I don't know, it's so dark and someone made me take off my watch.", Robert rolled his eyes as he reminded her, though it was only halfhearted as he was just joking with her. "Certainly, we must have to be coming close to the core, I think. Then again, we're falling like at... 120 miles. I read that's how fast you could fall.".
Susan raised an eyebrow, "Best guess?".
"Couldn't even tell you, maybe a few hours?", Robert leaned himself back as they kept on going. "If I knew it was going to be this long, I would've started to make love to you earlier, just to at least pass the time.".
Susan sighed regretfully, "Me too, but I think we better focus on landing than crashing in the middle of love-making. And I think it's six hours.".
"Fair enough.", Robert nodded. "I don't think we ever proved we could survive a massive fall.", he admitted as they kept falling; both of them unaware that they were finally coming to a stop.
Susan shrugged lightly, "That'd be the first time to do that, then.", before looking down, and screamed, "Tree!".
Robert reached over as he grabbed Susan and held her tight before the two of them crashed on what was a strange looking palm like tree before they hit the leaf and came to a fairly dead stop as the tree begun to bend as they slowly were being gently lowered to the ground at a slower rate.
Susan slid off, landing with Robert at her side, panting lightly as she looked up from regaining her balance, "Whoa...", eyes widening at the sight before them...
It was a sight unseen to life before, especially people like them. In some ways, it sorta reminded them of that alien planet Pandora from that movie that made the most money ever at night. There were bright lights on the top of the earth's crust that made everything look like a moonlit night with slight waterfalls of lava that could be seen in a few locations.
Susan breathed softly, "It's Paradise...", with Robert nodding in agreement, "Yeah...We're far away from home yet this feels like a home within our home...".
"Yeah...", Robert admitted as the two stood up and felt what could almost be described as the softest earth under their feet, like carpet. "I'm with you, love, it feels... so familiar, like returning home almost. I don't know why.".
Susan blinked in surprise as she sees something in the distance, "Hey, look, in the far distance...That mountain's glowing...Glowing green...".
"That's... odd.", Robert said as he helped dust Susan off. "You okay, by the way?", he asked as he currently was more focused on the well-being of his wife rather than the world around them at the moment.
Susan nodded, "I'm okay, Robert. No scrapes or anything. Your theory was right by the way. We survived a massive fall.".